Purchasing a left handed bass was, at one point, an incredible difficult task. Often times, left handed musicians would have to flip right handed bass guitars and string them upside down in order to perform. Such effort could often serve as a deterrent to budding musicians. Luckily, those days are long gone. Now it is incredibly easy for left handed bass players to find the left handed electric bass that is perfect for them. When shopping for a new instrument, it's important to have an understanding of which features are most important to you.

Ask a luthier (someone who crafts and repairs string instruments) and they will, without hesitation, say that tone wood plays an important role in the sound of your instrument. Simply put, different woods will produce different tones. A bass made of ash wood will offer rich harmonic overtones, while a bass crafted from mahogany will deliver a punchy growl and sustain. Different players prefer different sounds. There is not right or wrong wood, just the one that sounds best to you. Almost as important as the choice of tonewood is the choice between an active or passive pickup system. Passive pickups are known for a warm, full tone that has been popular since the earliest days of the electric bass. On the other hand, active pickups deliver a bright and clear tone that has become popular over time. If you love fat, punchy bass lines, passive pickups may be your best bet. Alternatively, go with active pickups if you like a real percussive sound and a higher output.

From the legendary Sir Paul McCartney, to indie rockers like Kathy Foster of the Thermals, to metal heads like Paul Gray of Slipknot, left handed bass players are everywhere, which is why left handed electric bass guitars are easier than ever to find. Whether you are a beginner looking for their first instrument, or a professional looking for a new instrument for the road, there is a left handed bass guitar out there that is perfect for you.